Torenia plant named &#39;danmoon18&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Torenia  plant named ‘DANMOON18’ particularly characterized by plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup-shaped flowers with petals in a combination of purple, violet and gray shades with a yellow blotch on the lower petal; trailing bush habit; vigorous growth habit; densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging baskets; early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate climate; suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade; and good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Torenia sp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DANMOON18’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Torenia plant, botanically known as Torenia sp. of the Scrophulariaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘DANMOON18’

The new Torenia cultivar is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Torenia cultivar with purple and gray flowers.

The new Torenia cultivar originated from an induced mutation by of the Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-3-1202’ (unpatented). The new Torenia cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated mutation in a controlled environment in January of 2005 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia cultivar by soft tip cuttings was first performed in June of 2005 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘DANMOON18’ which in combination distinguish this Torenia as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup-shaped flowers with         petals in a combination of purple, violet and gray shades with a         yellow blotch on the lower petal;     -   2. Trailing bush habit;     -   3. Vigorous growth habit;     -   4. Densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging         baskets;     -   5. Early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate         climate;     -   6. Suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial         shade; and     -   7. Good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of         15° C. to 25° C.

Plants of the new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON18’ differ from ‘TR-3-1202’ in the following characteristics described in Table 1. TABLE 1 Female Parent New Cultivar ‘TR-3-1202’ Characteristic ‘DANMOON18’ (unpatented) Mature Flower color Petal shades of purple, Petal shades of violet, violet and gray, with a yellow blotch on with a yellow blotch lower petal on lower petal Flower size Depth: About 4.0 cm Depth: About 3.0 cm Width: About 3.2 cm Width: About 3.0 cm Growth habit Trailing Bush Cascading Bush Flowering Response 3 weeks from planting 3 weeks from planting Time

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON18’ is the Torenia cultivar ‘ROSE MOON’ (unpatented) in the following characteristics described in Table 2: TABLE 2 Comparison Cultivar New Cultivar ‘ROSE MOON’ Characteristic ‘DANMOON18’ (unpatented) Mature Flower Color Petal shades of purple, Petal shades of light violet and gray, with red-purple, with a a yellow blotch yellow blotch on on lower petal lower petal Flower Size Depth: About 4.0 cm Depth: About 3.5 cm Width: About 3.2 cm Width: About 3.8 cm Growth Habit Trailing Bush Cascading Bush Flowering Response 3 weeks from planting 7 weeks from planting Time

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON18’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘DANMOON18’

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘DANMOON18’ in a planter at 3 months of age. ‘DANMOON18’ is the plant pictured in the forefront FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the typical flowers, buds and leaves of ‘DANMOON18’ at 3 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON18’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘DANMOON18’ as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Optimal growth conditions include that plants of ‘DANMOON18’ are grown outdoors in a moderate climate and indoors during the winter season. Irrigation and fertilization are recommended on a regular basis. Plants of ‘DANMOON18’ are usually grown in full sunlight, but partial shade is required in mid summer. Plants of ‘DANMOON18’ are fully-grown in 2.5 months from planting a cutting in the summer season and bloom all year-round in a moderate climate. The ‘DANMOON18’ plants described herein were grown indoors in 16 cm pots in a glass greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, at a day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 25° C. Plants of ‘DANMOON18’ were fertilized up to a level of 59 ppm N, 35.4 ppm P and 94.4 ppm K.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the ‘DANMOON18’ plants described is 10 weeks.

-   Parentage: Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-3-1202’ (unpatented) -   Propagation: Tissue culture and soft tip cuttings -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Bush, cascading.         -   Growth habit.—Trailing.         -   Height.—15 to 20 cm.         -   Spread.—About 70 cm.         -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender. Temperatures below 8° C. may             damage plants.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous growth; plants are fully-grown in 2.5 months             from planting cuttings during summer season. -   Stem:     -   -   Color.—RHS 144A, yellow-green.         -   Length.—About 25 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Pubescence.—Minimal.         -   Branching.—About 15 to 30 main branches grow from the base             and split into hundreds of secondary and tertiary branches.         -   Length of internodes.—1.5 to 14 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Overall shape.—Deltoid.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Reniform.         -   Size of leaf.—Width: 2.0 to 4.0 cm Length: About 4.2 cm.         -   Color.—Center color of leaf: RHS 137A, green Upper side: RHS             137A, green Under side: RHS 137B, green.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Leaf texture.—Glabrous with sensible veins.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Anastomotic Color: Upper surface: RHS             137C, green Lower surface: RHS 147A, yellow-green.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 0.2 to 1.5 cm Diameter: About 2.0 mm             Color: RHS 143C, green. -   Flowers:     -   -   Blooming period.—All year round in a moderate climate or in             a greenhouse environment. In Israel, flowering occurs             between February and November outdoors.         -   Flowering response time.—About 3 weeks from planting.         -   Flowering stem.—Flowers appear along the growing stems.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Per stem: About 4 to 7; Per plant:             About 200 to 350.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: About 2 to 5 days,             depending on temperature.         -   Type.—Single.         -   Shape.—Overall: funnel form; 5-winged; Corolla tube:             cylindrical or often broadened above; Corolla: 2-lipped, the             upper lip faintly 2-lobed, the lower lip 3-lobed.         -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Flower size.—Depth: About 4.0 cm Width: About 3.2 cm.         -   Bud.—         -   Shape.—Oblong, cylindrical, ellipsoid, 5-winged.         -   Size.—Length: About 1.8 mm Diameter: About 0.9 mm.         -   Color.—Apex: RHS 146A, yellow-green Base: RHS 144A,             yellow-green.         -   Texture.—Pubescence on winged edges.         -   Floral tube.—Length: About 3.2 cm Width: About 0.3 cm to 1.2             cm Color: (color changes between upper side of flower tube             to the lower one) Outside: Violet shades of RHS 86A (upper             side), RHS 83A (middle), and RHS 85A (lower side); Inside:             Purple shades of RHS 79B (apex) and RHS N77B (base).         -   Petals.—Number: Four, fused. Length: Upper Petal: About 1.4             cm; Side Petals: About 1.0 cm; Lower Petal: About 1.6 cm.             Width: Upper Petal: About 2.2 cm; Side Petals: About 1.2 cm;             Lower Petal: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Upper Petal: Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused; Side Petals: Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused; Lower: Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused. Margin: Undulated.         -   Color.—         -   Mature petals.—Upper Surface: Upper Petal: Near apex, RHS             97C, violet-blue, and near base, RHS 86A, violet; and             margin, RHS 97C, violet-blue; Side Petals: Primarily RHS             83A, violet, and inner margin RHS 92B, violet-blue; Lower             Petal: Primarily RHS 83A violet, with RHS 7B, yellow, blotch             in the middle near base, and RHS 91A, violet-blue color             surrounding blotch and near base, and margin, RHS 83A,             violet. Lower Surface: Upper Petal: Near apex and margin,             RHS 85A, violet, and near base, a mixture of violet shades             RHS 86A and RHS 86C; Side Petals: Primarily RHS 86A, violet,             with RHS 8A, yellow, and margin, RHS 86B, violet; Lower             Petal: Near apex, a mixture between RHS 8D, yellow, and RHS             91C, violet-blue, and near base and margin, RHS 84A, violet.         -   Throat.—Upper throat: RHS 86A, violet; Lower throat: RHS             85A, violet. Immature Petals: Upper Surface: Upper Petal:             Near apex and margin, RHS 160C, greyed-yellow, near base,             RHS 86B, violet; Side Petals: Primarily RHS 79A, purple, and             inner margin RHS 91B, violet-blue; Lower Petal: Primarily             RHS 83A, violet, with RHS 163C, greyed-orange blotch in the             middle near base Lower Surface: Upper Petal: Near apex and             margin, RHS N187B, greyed-purple, and near base, RHS 79B,             purple; Side Petals: Primarily RHS 79B, purple; Lower Petal:             Near apex, RHS 160B, greyed-yellow, and near base, RHS N79A,             purple, and margin, RHS N79B, purple; Throat: Center of             Flower: RHS 83A, violet.         -   Sepals.—Number: 5 Length: About 1.9 cm Width: About 0.6 cm             Shape: Two-lobed, 5-winged Apex: Acute Base: Wedge shaped             Margin: Undulated Color: RHS 144A, yellow-green.         -   Peduncle.—Length: About 2.3 to 4.2 cm Diameter: About 2.0 mm             Color: RHS 146B, yellow-green. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 2 pairs per flower, fused Color:             RHS 83A, violet, and RHS 155D, white Anther: Length: About             0.4 cm, upper anther shorter—about 0.3 cm Width: About 0.1             cm (separate, usually there are two fused) Color: RHS 155D,             white Spur: Present Filament: Length: About 1.4 cm; lower             filaments are shorter about 0.5 cm Width: About 0.4 mm             Color: RHS N85A, violet Pollen: Amount: Sparse. Color: RHS             N155C, white Requirements for pollination: Young flowers,             vital pollen, and receptive, open stigma.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Number: One per flower Length: About 2.9             cm Stigma: Length: About 0.3 cm Width: About 0.2 cm Color:             RHS 84A, violet Style: Length: About 2 cm Color: RHS 84B,             violet Ovary: Number: 1 Length: About 0.3 cm Width: About             0.2 cm Color: RHS 143A, green. -   Seed/fruit: None -   Pest/disease resistance and/or susceptibility: A standard     preventative spray program is sufficient as no susceptibility was     observed. Temperature tolerance: Sensitive to temperatures below 5°     C. 

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘DANMOON18’, as illustrated and described herein. 